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SEIA is the solar energy industry’s go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.

SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s communities, our economy, and our country.

WASHINGTON, DC – California has cemented its place as America’s solar leader, according to the recently-released U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Year in Review, and stands poised to become the first state in the nation to have 10 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity – enough to power nearly 2.5 million homes.

Standard Solar, Inc., announced it will design and install a 3.6-megawatt (MW) solar system for the Town of Stafford, Conn. The project will feature three arrays: two located at Stafford Middle School (1.3 MW each) and a 954-kW array at the town’s landfill.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Calling it “unfair to families, businesses and churches,” the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is urging West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to veto HB 2201, which could jeopardize the future of rooftop solar in the state by rewriting West Virginia’s net-metering policies. Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO, said the legislation needs to be revised before becoming law:

A new report from Duke University, The Solar Economy: Widespread Benefits for North Carolina, found that public policies such as North Carolina’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and Investment Tax Credit have made North Carolina first in the south and fourth in the nation for installed solar investment, creating jobs and boosting the economy across the state.

WASHINGTON, DC – According to a new report by The Solar Foundation, Nevada’s solar industry employment grew 146 percent in the past year, allowing it to rise to 7th in number of solar jobs by state and 1st in per-capita solar jobs. Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) said that the big jump in employment is the result, in part, of pro-growth policies supported by Senator Harry Reid and Senator Dean Heller. The state added 3,500 solar jobs over the previous year.

Massachusetts' continued commitment to clean, solar energy is paying off, according to a just-released report by The Solar Foundation, which shows the state second only to California in solar jobs. Reacting to the news, Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), said this remarkable progress is a result of several factors.

San Antonio is one of the leading cities for solar energy in the United States, with photovoltaic systems on nearly 2,500 roofs and a solar farm in the works that will power the equivalent of 70,000 homes.

Leading the effort is Doyle Beneby, the CEO of the city-owned utility, CPS Energy, which not only instituted a rooftop solar program that provides rebates for homeowners installing PV systems, but also negotiated deals with companies such as OCI Solar Power, the developer of the 400 megawatt solar farm.

Chinese billionaire Li Hejun, chairman of solar-equipment manufacturer Hanergy Holding, is expanding his business into the auto sector.

Hanergy will launch five models of solar-powered cars in October, according to a post on the company’s website. The models can run up to 100 km after four hours of charging, according to the statement.

“Hanergy is working with three foreign partners and two domestic firms to develop solar-powered vehicles,” the firm says in the statement. “The market potential is huge.”

Vivint, a leading provider of smart home technology, today announced that CEO Todd Pedersen will be featured on the season finale of CBS’s award-winning series “Undercover Boss,” Friday, February 20 at 8 p.m. EST.

The Southern California desert is now home to the world's largest solar power plant. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell joined state officials on Monday to open the 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight solar project in the town of Desert Center, Calif., near Joshua Tree National Park. Built by First Solar, the project generates enough electricity to power 160,000 average California homes.

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Last year, my father did what too many Floridians want to avoid but can’t: he broke his hip. I spent a good deal of time flying across the Sunshine State visiting him, often under sunny skies that showcased stunning views while I sat buckled into a window seat.

With a total of only 1,231 square miles, Rhode Island is the smallest state in America. But in a short period of time, the state is starting to have a big impact on the development of renewable energy resources nationwide. Wind and solar power have economic benefits that reach far and wide. They have become increasingly affordable, attracting billions in private development, and today are both mainstream and reliable energy sources across America.

While Americans know wind and solar energy are clean, they often aren't aware of the economic success story behind these renewable-energy technologies. Wind and solar power have economic benefits that reach far and wide. They have become increasingly affordable, attracting billions in private development, and today are both mainstream and reliable energy sources across America.

While battles rage with utilities taking on both solar customers and businesses around the country, Vermont has quietly expanded its net metering program by nearly four times its original size without so much as a skirmish.

While Americans know wind and solar energy is clean, they often aren’t aware of the economic success story behind these renewable energy technologies. Wind and solar power have economic benefits that reach far and wide.

As the SHC Alliance celebrates its 1-year anniversary this March, I wanted to take a moment and reflect on our achievements in 2013, and let you know about the exciting opportunities, as well as the collective challenges, our industry faces going forward.

The latest report released by SEIA/GTM, the Solar Market Insight Year in Review 2013, shows solar expanded rapidly last year to nearly 13 GW of installations in the U.S. – enough to power nearly 2.2 million homes. Watch our new video!

What would Alexandre Edmond Becquerel be thinking now? In 1839, at the age of just 19, Becquerel built the world’s first photovoltaic panel, later inspiring the imaginations of millions of people worldwide, including legendary scientist Albert Einstein. Still, it took another 115 years before Bell Labs invented the first modern silicon solar cell. By comparison, it’s no stretch to say that the solar timeline has rocketed forward at warp speed in recent years.

With the coldest winter in two decades gripping much of the country this year – and wild price swings for natural gas rattling the markets, not to mention American consumers – it’s easy for many people to overlook the “hot start” in 2014 for solar energy.

But so far this year, it’s been good news followed by even more good news for the U.S. solar industry.